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Meg Medina

メグ・メディナ

Meg Medina

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1963-06-11 （Alexandria, Virginia, United States）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English, Spanish
Residence History
Queens, New York → Florida, United States → Richmond, Virginia, United States

Career

Occupations
Writer, Children's book author, Teacher (former), Freelance journalist (former), Editorial assistant (former)
Active Years
1984-
Affiliations
We Need Diverse Books (founding member, advisory committee), Hamline University MFA for Children's Writing (faculty), Library of Congress (National Ambassador for Young People's Literature 2023–2024)
Memberships
We Need Diverse Books (founding member)
Nominations
National Book Award longlist (2016, Burn Baby Burn)

Education

Hunter College (City University of New York)
Period: 1979–1981
Country: United States
Attended before transferring to Queens College
Queens College (City University of New York)
Communication Arts / English Writing (minor)
Degree: B.A.
Period: 1981–1984
Year of Graduation: 1984
Country: United States
Graduated majoring in Communication Arts with a minor in English Writing

Awards

John Newbery Medal
2019
Work: Merci Suárez Changes Gears
Category: 児童文学
Organization: Association for Library Service to Children (ALA)
Result: 受賞
Pura Belpré Award
2014
Work: Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass
Category: ヤングアダルト／作家賞
Organization: Association for Library Service to Children (ALA)
Result: 受賞
Pura Belpré Award — Honor Book
2016
Work: Mango, Abuela, and Me
Category: 児童図書（絵本）
Organization: Association for Library Service to Children (ALA)
Result: オナー
Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award
2012
Work: Tía Isa Wants a Car
Category: 新人作家賞（絵本）
Organization: Ezra Jack Keats Foundation
Result: 受賞
Charlotte Huck Award — Honor Book
2019
Work: Merci Suárez Changes Gears
Category: 児童文学
Organization: National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
Result: オナー
International Latino Book Award
2014
Work: Burn Baby Burn
Category: ヤングアダルトフィクション（英語）
Organization: Latino Book Awards
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Milagros: Girl from Away

2008 Middle grade novel

A middle grade novel dealing with immigration and family relationships, following Milagros's coming-of-age and search for belonging.

immigrationfamilybelonging

Tía Isa Wants a Car

2011 Picture book

A picture book based on the author's aunt buying a car for the family; themes of family love and community.

familycommunityimmigrant life
Translations
  • Tia Isa quiere un carro

Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass

2013 Young adult novel

A YA novel about bullying at school and a girl's fight to stand up for herself; also explores cultural background and identity struggles.

bullyingidentityLatino culture
Translations
  • Yaqui Delgado quiere darte una paliza

Mango, Abuela, and Me

2015 Picture book

A picture book about the relationship between a Spanish-speaking grandmother and her English-speaking granddaughter; focuses on intergenerational bonds and bilingualism.

bilingualismintergenerational bondsfamily
Translations
  • Mango, Abuela Y Yo

Burn Baby Burn

2016 Young adult historical fiction

Set in 1977 New York, it follows a 17-year-old girl's coming-of-age amid a serial killer stalking young women and social unrest.

historycoming of agesocial issues

Merci Suárez Changes Gears

2018 Middle grade novel

Twelve-year-old Merci Suárez navigates family challenges, school life, and her grandfather's Alzheimer's diagnosis; a story of family bonds and personal growth.

familyAlzheimer'sgrowing upLatino culture
Translations
  • Merci Suárez se pone las pilas

Evelyn del Rey is Moving Away

2020 Picture book

A picture book about friendship and moving away, capturing the emotional changes of relocation.

friendshipmovinggrowing up
Translations
  • Evelyn del Rey se muda

Bibliography

  • Tía Isa Wants a Car (2011)
  • Tia Isa quiere un carro (2012)
  • The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind (2012)
  • Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass (2013)
  • Mango, Abuela and Me (2015)
  • Burn Baby Burn (2016)
  • Merci Suárez Changes Gears (2018)
  • Evelyn del Rey is Moving Away (2020)
  • She Persisted: Sonia Sotomayor (2021)
  • Merci Suárez Can't Dance (2021)
  • Merci Suárez Plays It Cool (2022)
  • She Persisted: Pura Belpré (2023)
  • No More Señora Mimí (2024)

Translations of Works

  • Yaqui Delgado quiere darte una paliza (Spanish edition)
  • Mango, Abuela Y Yo (Spanish edition)
  • Merci Suárez se pone las pilas (Spanish edition)
  • Evelyn del Rey se muda (Spanish edition)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
realistic and warm prosevoice that empathizes with young readersdepictions woven with cultural background
Recurring Motifs
family bondsimmigration and identityintergenerational relationshipsfood and domestic scenes

Legacy

Meg Medina has promoted the importance of diversity in children's and YA literature through works centered on Latino culture, supporting young readers and emerging authors. Her Newbery Medal and other honors have secured her a prominent place in American children's literature.

Academic Societies

  • We Need Diverse Books (diversity advocacy organization; founding member)

Archives

  • Library of Congress — Meg Medina resource guide

In Popular Culture

  • Listed on CNN's "10 Visionary Women" (2014)

Quotes

  • (Relevant extended quotations require source citation and are omitted here.)

Trivia

  • Full name is Margaret Rose Medina.
  • Served as National Ambassador for Young People's Literature (2023–2024).
  • Won the 2019 Newbery Medal for Merci Suárez Changes Gears.
  • Is a founding member of We Need Diverse Books.
  • Married to Javier Menéndez and has three children.